At this time of year, adding an extra-special flavor to the group fitness experience gives participants extra reasons for coming to the club instead of getting caught up in the normal holiday rush of things. Here are some easy-to-implement ideas from group fitness experts around the globe for adding some holiday spirit to the group fitness experience.

A growing body of research suggests that expressing gratitude on a regular basis can increase productivity, boost happiness and even improve general health. Learn how group fitness instructors can make gratitude a part of the group fitness experience and help all participants reap these benefits and more.

Shoulders are a naturally mobile joint, making them prone to injury. These yoga poses can both strengthen and release tension in the shoulder muscles, helping to increase stability and decrease the risk of injury.

You plan and prepare and come to class pumped to deliver an awesome fitness experience for your participants. There are, however, a few things that can ruin a class and have people sneaking out the back door or, worse yet, skipping your class altogether. Here are three things you need to keep in mind to keep participants coming back, week after week.

Each individual who graduates from a yoga teacher training is on a different path. Some new graduates head straight into teaching full-time. Some ease their way in slowly or teach one class per week, while others never teach at all, instead using teacher training as a way to deepen their own practices. They’re all wonderful options! But if you’re a newly-minted yoga instructor and you’re ready to jump into the world of teaching, there are some key points to keep in mind.

Research suggests that the beginning and ending of a training session or group fitness class leave a lasting impact on participants. With that in mind, ACE pro Lawrence Biscontini explains how to make the most of the “intro” and “outro” portions of your clients’ workouts to maximize their experiences and keep them coming back for more.

The group fitness market is constantly changing, so it’s unwise to take your client base for granted. Here are five proven approaches for encouraging both new and seasoned exercisers to keep coming back to your classes, time and time again.

The ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification is an important first step in the evolution of a group fitness instructor. Once you understand the basics of leading a safe and effective class, motivation techniques, class design, music selection, applied anatomy and other key teaching elements can be easily applied to any group modality. Here’s a look at how the knowledge I acquired through the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification has given me the confidence to teach a variety of formats.

Boot camps are now at an all-time high in popularity, which isn’t surprising given how fun and effective these classes can be. If you’re thinking about starting a boot-camp class, or if you feel your boot-camp classes could use a little inspiration, here are some great tips from some of the best in the business.

As the fitness industry continues to evolve, opportunities for instructors have never been greater. With so much variety in the field, no two interview experiences are the same. Keep in mind that most companies require a verbal interview and a practical audition. The following tips can help you prepare for your interview and make a great first impression.

If you’re considering becoming a group fitness instructor, you were probably inspired by one of your teachers, and now you want to create that transformative experience for others. This is exciting! Taking that leap from participant to instructor is a big one—bigger than you might think. When you put the microphone on, you’re taking responsibility for everyone and everything that happens in that room. Here are few questions to ask yourself before heading down this path.

The American Council on Exercise is proud to announce the release of an all-new ACE Group Fitness Instructor study experience—the definitive resource for health and fitness professionals who want to design and deliver memorable movement experiences in any modality of group exercise. Find out what's new.

Teaching group fitness means making adjustments to your plans on the fly, especially when stereo equipment malfunctions or you don’t have time to eat a meal between classes. Fill your backpack or duffel with these 8 essential back-up tools and you will be better prepared to adapt to any situation.

Interested in picking up more classes and increasing your group fitness income? ACE Gold Certified Group Fitness Instructor Lawrence Biscontini shares his top 10 career growth tips for today’s group fitness professional.

Whether you’re a long-time instructor or just earned your certification, stepping back to look at where the industry has come in group fitness can offers a fresh appreciation for and industry that, arguably, has never been more exciting than it is right now. ACE Certified pro Lawrence Biscontini looks at the face of group fitness—then and now.

Looking for ways to freshen up your boot-camp classes? Here is a great 45-minute circuit that both your regulars and newbies are sure to love. Designed for moderate-to-advanced clients, this workout includes appropriate regressions and extended rest periods to accommodate your less-experienced participants.

Did you hear about the fitness pro who was kicked out of a SoulCycle studio and banned from attending future classes? The news caused quite a stir, to the say the least. Shannon Fable weighs in on the controversy and offers some incredibly insightful principles to guide you in your life and work as a fitness professional.

Group fitness instructors are among the most enthusiastic, upbeat people on the planet, especially when it comes to their careers. But it can be tough to love a job that doesn’t always pay the bills. Fitness pro Shannon Fable explains four viable paths that group fitness instructors should consider if they want to expand their career paths and increase their income.

The NFL Combine, where college players perform a number of grueling tests to see if they have what it takes to compete at the professional level, is coming up soon. If you’re looking for some fun, interactive programming ideas for your personal-training clients or group-fitness participants, this event offers a great opportunity for your participants to “compete” against the best of the best by performing the same tests and drills.

January is the best month for group fitness, as newly committed exercisers flood your classes. But if we’re not careful to give our new participants reasons to keep coming back, we may find our class numbers dwindling by March. Here are three tips to up your game with newbies and keep your classes packed all year long.

Could some of the passion and enthusiasm you feel as a group fitness instructor actually turn off some potential participants? Fitness pro Shannon Fable has some challenging ideas for GFIs, explaining that many of our industry’s tried-and-true practices may not be the best way to encourage the masses to enjoy the benefits of being physically active.

There are, it seems, as many styles and approaches to yoga as there are instructors. But what do you do if your students learned their poses from instructors that followed yoga styles that are different from the one you are teaching? Go with the flow, says yoga expert Elizabeth Kovar, who urges instructors to take a more modern-day approach to teaching yoga by being respectful of other traditions and staying flexible with regards to what they consider to be right or correct form.

It’s nearly back-to-school time, which also happens to be back-to-the-gym time for many people, especially busy moms who finally get some time to focus on their fitness. Creating a welcoming environment in your classes for new participants is essential to keeping them coming back for more. Fitness expert Shannon Fable shares her best tips for helping newbies feel successful and have fun in your group fitness classes.

Ready to learn more about what separates a good group fitness instructor from one who is truly great? In part two of our series, renowned group fitness instructor Shannon Fable details the remaining top 5 traits of group fitness instructors who are most successful at taking what they love to do—lead fitness classes—and making the biggest impact on the widest variety of participants.

Like so many others, you became a group fitness instructor so you could help others enjoy the transformative benefits of exercise. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it’s also a LOT of fun! In this first of a two-part series, renowned group fitness instructor Shannon Fable details the top 10 traits of group fitness instructors who are most successful at taking what they love to do—lead fitness classes—and making the biggest impact on the widest variety of participants.

Looking for ways to maximize your workouts and shake things up a bit in 2013? Here are 5 great tips for rejuvenating your exercise routine, increasing your motivation and getting off those dreaded plateaus.

Since the late 90s when Les Mills hit the States, pre-choreography has been a source of debate among fitness professionals worldwide. Many thought the pre-choreography idea would never work in the U.S., but boy were we wrong.

The previous two posts addressed how understanding the Functional Movement and Resistance Training components of the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® (ACE IFT®) model can help you market your services when you’re asked about many popular exercise trends. This post will address how to use the cardiorespiratory training progressions of the ACE IFT® to appeal to potential clients when they ask you about popular exercise programs such as Zumba®, indoor cycling or Insanity®.

Start your new year on a healthy foot with Lawrence Biscontini's heart-pumping, full-length, 15-minute, step cardio total body workout. Leave the exercise equipment behind, clear some space and start burning fat while improving your balance. Plus, group fitness instructors can download the choreography and music playlist.

Becoming the most successful group fitness instructor and more importantly, truly helping to lead the wellness revolution one person at a time, requires broad-based appeal. Much like music and television, you can choose to exist on one end of the personality spectrum and gain notoriety, but to reach the top of the charts and win an award, it is usually better to play somewhere in the middle. Learn why this is important for your success as a fitness professional and just how to achieve this.

Far too often, in group fitness and personal training, we take for granted that those we communicate to and teach can hear us. Yes, they hear us, but we don’t often put careful attention into making our cues more succinct and effective. Find out how to be a better cuer.

While there are an abundance of asanas (commonly referred to as postures or poses) in yoga, the foundation for a physical practice should focus on practicing postures progressively in order to enhance steadiness, alertness and overall comfort — qualities referred to as sthira and sukha in the Yoga Sutras. Learn important factors to consider when sequencing your next yoga class.

In the fitness world there are two widely different tastes of a 1-on-1 personal trainer and a group fitness instructor. In many health clubs these two worlds very rarely collide yet they are a magical recipe of success for fitness professionals interested in reaching a new audience of potential clients while simultaneously creating a way to provide additional services to existing ones.

Continue reading ⇒

Sign up to receive relevant, science-based health and fitness information and other resources.